This is a valid question. In 2020 we introduced the 2nd version of the CTT SensorStation, and simultaneously released new versions of the CTT Node and CTT LifeTag. For the latter two products we made some significant advances in the way they communicate with our SensorStation radios, and they way they confirm their digital ID. Technology moves at lightning speed, and while we made these changes with every intention of full backwards compatibility, we soon learned that the radios would need to be manually updated once before they could join the V2 SensorStations in receiving over-the-air radio programming.
So should you update? If you plan to add Version 2 CTT Nodes to your study, then the answer is absolutely yes. If your station is listening for V2 LifeTags, it will still pick up the tag ID like it always has, but will not be able to use the tag ID confirmation code to absolutely validate the ID. So if you want the highest degree of confirmation for LifeTags, then the answer is also yes.
If you’re doing a localized study using PowerTags and not using any of the newer Nodes, then you don’t need to update the radios at all…but of course you still can! To find out how, read on…
Software > DownloadsArduino IDE 1.6.9 or earlier. You can do so here). Again, see Appendix I for full instructions for using that programmer.File menu, select PreferencesPreferences page you’ll see a window for Additional Boards Manager URLs. Past the following in that window:https://adafruit.github.io/arduino-board-index/package_adafruit_index.json
Now go to Tools > Board “xxx” > Boards Manager
Install the latest version of Adafruit AVR Boards
Now the Adafruit boards will appear un the Tools > Board:”xxx” menu…choose Adafruit Feather 32u4
At this point you are almost ready to connect the adapter on the USBtinyISP to the header on the SensorStation radios and burn the new bootloader on each radio, but first we have a little prep work to do…
Connect the USBtinyISP device to your compute using a USB cable.
Go to Tools > Programmer and select USBtinyISP
OFF, and the power has been disconnected.removing the Raspberry Pi Module
The first step of Part 3 will differ depending on whether your V1 SensorStation came with the radio programming headers or not (whether there are six holes, or six pins, in a 2x3 grid just above the radio SMA ports). The directions below are written assuming no headers are present, so the header pins are on the end of the adapter instead. If your board has headers already, simply insert the female 6-pin header onto the radio pins instead.
Place the adapter pins into the holes on the header for the first radio (Note: You will need to apply some downward pressure to ensure a connection to the header.)